I skip a day or two when I have tried a new type razor, like a Weck with a thick sharp Personna blade and do some damage. I wash my face in the morning and at night and put on some face lotion or Prep pre/post shave after witch hazel or Sea Breeze.
1. I shave every work day as dictated by work, and that puts me in an awkward situation. Since I started wet shaving (January this year), I strive to achieve BBS every time, so usually 3 passes plus touch-ups. Initially I had many nicks and cuts, but eventually found the proper technique and blades/creams that suit me. However, it seems I have coarse beard and slow growth rate, and if I did do 3 passes every work day, I get crazy irritation, especially in the lower neck, right around my shirt's collar or helmet strap. I tried to limit myself to 2 passes on work days and accept the results, but ideally I'd skip a day each time, except the bosses wouldn't really appreciate it. So I give myself mandatory no-shave weekend to let the skin heal (plus my wife likes the bum look, HA!). Bottom line, it didn't fix the issue, but at least it's not as noticeable. Perhaps I still need to work on my technique although today I had the best shave ever! I let my beard grow 5 days (I'm on vacation!) which was a struggle cause I enjoy wet shaving so much. I used the same products, technique, 3 passes as usual and got no irritation or nicks whatsoever! This evening, after my normal cleansing routine, I noticed a light neck irritation that went away after 10 minutes. I think I might've rubbed too hard, so to speak, with my face cloth and that may be an easy fix, which ties into question 2. 2. Wet shaving is embedded into my normal face cleaning routine. I abide by the principal of 1) Clean; (insert wet shave if required) 2) tone; 3) moisturize. So even on non-shave days, I go through this morning and evening, and it seems to have helped my skin quite a bit. I also tried to isolate the potential problem by avoiding alcohol, mentholated, paraben products for a week each, but I still cannot put a finger on the cause. I am starting to think it might just be an external factor but that's too broad to cover and fix. I'd be happy if anyone shared their tips on how to avoid this, since I understand I am not the first new guy to experience this. Can anyone say if they think age might be a factor? All older people I asked, my dad included, seem to have grown thicker skin and can get away with even the worst shave without any damage! Cheers!
It can take a month or more for your skin to acclimate to a new way of shaving. That is obviously not your problem. You may be using to much pressure, or going over the same spot more than once without reapplying shaving cream, you could be failing to re-wet your face between applications of shaving cream. You may be one of those people who cannot shave ATG without some irritation. I would guess that you are not re-wetting your face between applications of lather. It is not often talked about and gets overlooked. Wet shaving refers to shaving a "wet" face, hence the name. The water on your face protects your skin and acts as a cushion between the skin and your razor. The lather adds some slickness, but it's primary purpose is to keep the water on your face. (I could be, and probably am wrong. It is hard to pin down something like this without actually, physically, watching you shave. Sorry buddy, not real big on "Bro" moments. Hope this helps). Edit: got caught up giving advice and forgot why I looked at this thread in the first place. I shave daily, sometimes twice a day for the sheer fun of shaving. the only days I miss are when I have to up obnoxiously early, and even then I'll try to shave the night before so I don't look horrible the next day. I work in a relaxed office environment during the week so I don't have to shave if I don't want to. Sunday always gets a shave or two from me, either because I'm going to church or more often, because my weekend retail job schedules me to come in that day.
I do wet my face between passes and even re-apply the Proraso pre-shave (sensitive skin). I asked in a different thread if maybe the alum could give me a rash. Today however, I just went with a different blade and I can tell it was just over shaving that caused the irritation (going over too many times to get a BBS), but yesterday, I didn't feel burning nor had any redness until later in the day. And yet it started for no apparent reason, and it's itchy too! It might be something my skin isn't liking from the shaving cream, which brings the question, are soaps better? I tried a couple but couldn't get a good lather so I threw them out, but reading other posts, I might have tried the wrong way!
Soaps take twice as much time and two to three times as much water to reach a good lather. Most people who have trouble with soaps aren't adding enough water. Speaking of water, the problem (burning and redness) could be something in your water. Have you tried using distilled water? Per your question regarding soaps. From what I understand, creams are mostly soaps with water pre-added plus a few other things, JoAnna can answer that better than I can. If she doesn't respond here, try PMing her.
I only shave once (@ the weekend) as I don't usually find time during the week, due to work..... plus I don't like rushing my shave..... so I guess it works for me. don't bother with anything other than soap and water during the week....
At the most I shave every other day. Have a slow growing beard. Usually let two days pass in between shaves. Usually let weekends slide unless I specifically feel like shaving. When not shaving, I'll use special prescription creams on parts of my face as a result of (I was diagnosed and told) having a long term psoriasis type reaction to an oral medication I was taking. After I do shave, I use a home made mixture of intensive care skin lotion and generic listerine type mouthwash and it seems to help, and it feels good as well.
On days where I don't shave, it is usually due to one of two reasons. The first reason is that I only got 3-4 house of sleep (like last night)...so I sleep/stay in bed every minute I can before having to get up for work. On days like that the shave tends to be sloppy anyway, so I skip it. Or two, I tried a new razor/blade the day before, and it didn't agree with me, and left my skin in a horrible state. In this situation I tend to take a day or two off, so the skin has time to heal. There is also a third reason which is far more rare than the second. The third reason would he because I am on a holiday and the location doesn't have shaving facilities. But since I am almost never on a vacation...especially to a place with no facilities, this never happens (well it happened once).
I shave every day, mostly for the sake of routine, but take a Saturday off sometimes. On those days I don't do anything special - just soap and water and maybe a dab of 4711. Best Regards Graham
The only time that I miss is if I get a call in the middle of the night for an emergency at work. Shaving daily is so ingrained in me that when I miss,I tend to get tender. Not because the beard has come in mind you but because I keep rubbing my face because the growth is annoying me.
I enjoyed reading all the posts in this thread! I usually shave 4-5 days a week. I find it is beneficial to give your skin a rest. Also, a day off also allows for easier hair removal on your next shave...I also know what you mean about laziness not really being a factor for most wet shavers. I am planning on holding off til the morning...But I would love to whip up some lather and have a good shave right now.
Usually I shave every other day, unless I have a business meeting where my cheeks have to be smooth It is my experience that my face benefits with the days rest it gets when not shaving...
Shaving every other day just works for me. At one point I tried to shave once every 24 hours, but it was too irritating. I'm starting to believe that technique overrules equipment, so ill shave every other day. Who else enjoys a noticeable amount of stubble in the sink?
Well, this morning's shave was off of a day of rest yesterday. For me, it is beneficial. My skin feels good right now and nor irritation. I like my shaves to be smooth, but like when the shadow comes back in for a nice look. Once the scruff starts though, it's off. My skin is pretty oily so facial hair tends make my skin feel all the more oily, which I cannot stand. Looking forward to another nice shave tomorrow.
Great thread! I mix it up all the time. Sometimes, I want to look smooth. Sometimes, I feel like having a little stubble. Sometimes, I'm just in the mood to shave. Sometimes, I am not. Over the past week, my schedule has been erratic. I shaved on Saturday afternoon, took a shower and then napped. Aaaah! My next shave was on Monday morning for "work" (I came to my office, but didn't really do anything). I shaved again Tuesday morning to look presentable for when family came over to open Christmas gifts. I have not shaved since, but I will do so this evening before going out to dinner. Maybe! I might just go somewhere super casual on the beach. If that's the case, no shave. Ahh, Florida. Wow, long answer. The concise version: I usually shave every other day, but that's not carved in stone. When I don't shave, I still take care of it. Wash, tone, moisturize. If I don't, I get dry patches which look awful. Sometimes, I will give my face a rest by washing with water only. But moisturizing is a constant. It makes a world of difference. It feels great, it looks great, and my skin makes for a great shaving surface when regularly moisturized. About two or three nights per week, I will skip my usual moisturizer (Mario Badescu Control Moisture For Oily Skin) and moisturize with olive oil instead. No, it doesn't make my skin too oily. I wake up my skin feeling hydrated. OK, I am done babbling.
Being in the ranks of the retired, not shaving everyday is the 1st step to walking around with your fly down and having P stains on your pants! The only concession I've made to grooming is that I no longer have all my shirts laundered and pressed.(god I miss that!)
I take weekends off to let my skin recover unless we're going out. I've never grown a full beard, 5 days without shaving was my record until I nearly clawed my own face off due to the itching!
When I shaved with cartridge razor I would shave every morning before work, except Saturday morning. Some Saturdays I work, so I have to shave on those days. Sunday was always a day for my face to rest. Since I started DE Shaving I havent missed a day....Whiskey---Tango----F! I'm hooked, I don't see how you can skip a day. I really do look forward to shaving. Heck, I even got excited one morning and shaved off my gotee. Now I have no facial hair and my face is baby butt smooth and I look like a child. I can't complain, I'm having fun and taking care of my skin at the same time.
